Influence of Tranexamic Acid in Body Contouring Surgery: Significant Changes on Complication Rates after Abdominoplasty

Maximilian Zaussinger; Celina Kerschbaumer; Bernhard Schwartz; Kathrin Bachleitner; Gudrun Ehebruster; Manfred Schmidt

doi:10.1007/s00266-024-04094-y

Influence of Tranexamic Acid in Body Contouring Surgery: Significant Changes on Complication Rates after Abdominoplasty

Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2024 May 15. doi: 10.1007/s00266-024-04094-y. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Maximilian Zaussinger^{1

2

3}, Celina Kerschbaumer⁴, Bernhard Schwartz⁵, Kathrin Bachleitner⁴, Gudrun Ehebruster⁴, Manfred Schmidt^{4

6}

Affiliations

¹ Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kepler University Hospital Linz, Krankenhausstrasse 9, 4020, Linz, Austria. m.zaussinger@hotmail.com.
² Medical Faculty, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040, Linz, Austria. m.zaussinger@hotmail.com.
³ Doctoral Degree Program in Medical Science, Paracelsus Medical University, Strubergasse 21, 5020, Salzburg, Austria. m.zaussinger@hotmail.com.
⁴ Section of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kepler University Hospital Linz, Krankenhausstrasse 9, 4020, Linz, Austria.
⁵ Department of Research and Development, University of Applied Sciences for Health Professions Upper Austria, Semmelweisstraße 34, D3, 2, 4020, Linz, Austria.
⁶ Medical Faculty, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Straße 69, 4040, Linz, Austria.

PMID: 38750226
DOI: 10.1007/s00266-024-04094-y

Abstract

Background: Complications after abdominoplasty remain an unsolved issue in body contouring surgery. The antifibrinolytic drug tranexamic acid (TXA) has gained increasing recognition as a valuable pharmacologic agent within plastic surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of intravenously administered TXA on complications and patient safety after abdominoplasty.

Methods: Within this retrospective single-center study, patients who underwent abdominoplasty and received intravenous TXA were selected and compared to randomly selected patients who underwent abdominoplasty without administration of TXA. The patient population was divided into two study groups (TXA vs no TXA). Demographic and surgical data as well as complications were evaluated and compared. Appropriate statistical analysis was performed.

Results: Fifty-seven female and 3 male patients with a median age of 38 years and a mean BMI of 25.6 ± 3.3 kg/m² were included in the study. Except smoking history, demographic data showed no statistically significant differences between both groups. The most common complication was seroma formation (n = 16; 23.9%), and its occurrence was statistically significantly lower in the TXA group (p = 0.023). Furthermore, postoperative seroma aspiration was performed in statistically significant lower numbers in the TXA group (p < 0.05). No thromboembolic events or seizures were observed.

Discussion: The outcomes of this study showed that the intravenous administration of TXA leads to a significant reduction of seroma formation and postoperative seroma aspiration after abdominoplasty. Simultaneously, no adverse thromboembolic events were detected. Hence we would recommend administration of TXA in body contouring surgery to decrease the incidence of seroma formation.

Level of evidence iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Keywords: Abdominoplasty; Body contouring; Seroma formation; Tranexamic acid.